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Categories: Restaurants, Coffee & Tea
Pier 30
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The seagull and I are in an epic staring contest. This is about to become full fledged war. The seagull advances slowly and cagily.
Jennie advantages: much, much bigger. Has custody and control of the food (for right now). Opposable thumbs.
Seagull advantages: can totally shit on my head.
So far, I have won this battle when I have come to Red's. But I suspect there will be a day that I look away, entranced by the preternaturally attractive guy at the front counter, and a seagull swoops in to cart off my food.
The food is good and dirt cheap. The atmosphere is pleasantly divey, as you would expect, seeing as it's situated on a bird-poo-covered pier. You order at the counter, you take your own food out, and you will eat it... you will eat it and LIKE it. (As everyone else says: don't expect lettuce and tomato on your burger - it's not going to happen.)
Sometimes when confronted with a good thing, you have to adjust your expectations. You realize that the boy of your dreams is never going to remember to coordinate his colors properly. You eat inside the building instead of outside. You forgo the lettuce and tomato. You yell at the seagulls and pigeons for attacking your personal bubble. Whatever.
Worth it!
I love Red's...no pretense of anything but a greasy spoon...and it is one of my faves. This is truly one-of-a-kind!!
I had the fish and chips today...with an Anchor beer....hubby got his usual burger. Both were huge, and amazing!!
We sat outside...and watched the fog lift from the bay...and all the boats heading out.....stunning.
A great start to a wonderful day!!!
I guess 190 plus YELPERS agree...Red's is it!
What a great dive building! Need I say location,…
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It's a very rare occasion that I actually log into Yelp and sound off for or against any business. Having lived in the city for a few years- and encountered the full spectrum of quality- I have to at least attempt to save someone else from wasting their money at Red's, even if it is only a few dollars.
My boyfriend and I rode our bikes down to Red's on a fantastic weekend afternoon to have a burger on the water and enjoy the view. I sat outside while he went to the counter to order, and couldn't help but notice the obvious smell of garbage. The outdoor seating area literally smells like you are eating in a dumpster. That combined with the overly loud and obnoxious group of regulars at the table next to us (proclaiming how much they loved the place) should have clued me in to what I was in for regarding lunch.
Everyone who has said that a $0.69 McDonald's cheeseburger looks like a gourmet delight next to their burger was right on. I have no idea what prompted someone to slap a precooked, paper thin, flavorless patty on a huge hunk of sourdough...drown it in mustard and call it a "burger". It's essentially a mustard and pickle sandwich with no flavor other than the condiments. The coke cans we received with our order were hella dirty, and the onion rings were nothing more than previously frozen, deep fried batter. I could find no onion inside. If I had bought my own lunch and wasn't bound by courtesy, I would have taken one bite and tossed it out- and headed over to Pearl's in lower Nob Hill for a real (and still inexpensive) burger.
I really wanted Red's to be a hidden gem, and a dive worth visiting when in need of a hangover meal or pregame one day. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place if you have any personal standards of cleanliness, quality, or common sense.
I walked here hung over on a sunday afternoon. I could have just gone to Taylors across from my fatty pad but I decided to walk in the foots steps of Bourdain. How did he even find this place? I was expecting a decent burger but it was just mediocre. I wasn't a huge fan of mcdonalds sized cheeseburger patties in a fatty ass sourdough roll. The breakfast, however, looked really good here. The patio was an nice place to enjoy my mediocre burger. Next time I am gonna burn less calories and eat at Taylors even though it takes an hour to get your food. Lame.
Red's is an institution here in San Francisco. They've been slinging burgers to weary longshoremen since before Calvin Coolidge became the 30th President of the United States of America, and they've been fryin' up fish sticks to the masses along the Embarcadero since before Roy and Walt Disney formed The Walt Disney Company. With that being said, there are a few generations of families that don't know San Francisco without Red's, and for that, I have to tip my hat.
Being on Anthony Bourdain's 'No Reservations' could prove to be one of the worst things that's ever happened to this place. OR, it could be the best. I suppose only time will tell. But what I've noticed since Tony profiled the joint is an increase in patrons and an overrated idea of what's to be expected. It's essentially a fast food joint on the water, and I can't help but believe people are expecting to sink their teeth into the greatest burger in history. That's the double-edged sword in this kind of publicity, as it was a tad misrepresented, as far as I'm concerned.
This place is an anomaly. If you scan the horizon around the water's edge, you'll notice high rises, yuppies jogging with their iPods, AT&T park, expensive looking condos, the Bay Bridge... and Red's. It sticks out like a sore thumb, it's beat up and sagging like an abandoned spider web... but that's the appeal more so than the food. It's the sole survivor in a sea of gentrification, and it's nice to support such an operation that's been grinding away or nearly 80 years without so much as a face lift along the way.
If you're a Giants fan, you'll have to wait until 2010, but this is one of the best pre-game spots in the area. PBRs are $1.75 and their other beer specials are smokin' as well. Head in an hour before the game, grab a bucket of Milwaukee's finest on the back patio, and get a serious buzz going for the same scratch you'd drop on one Bud Light inside AT&T Park.
{ destroy // tradition } They serve a vile slab of sickly looking meat they call "hamburger" on an over-sized tough piece of sourdough. This was the most disgusting thing I've eaten in a few years. It was tasteless and made utterly without love. The chili-cheese fries were nasty. There's nothing more to say, except: Just after I ordered and was waiting near the counter, a couple of pigeons flew up in the restaurant, which they had been eating off the floor of. Mind you, this is *inside* the restaurant. Gross.
A little bit later, the counter lady was pouring a bucket of onion rings out a window into the Bay, attracting a flock of frenzied seagulls. More gross.
These people don't have a f'ing clue, the place is disgusting and the food awful. There's plenty of better food to be had for the price, just not at this dump.
Great piece of SF history! Burgers are made how they originally were in 1918 when brought back from Germany after WWI by American servicemen... hilarious when snotty tourists scream at the cooks they forgot the lettuce and tomato, and the cooks bluntly saying "we don't make 'em like that." The customer is NOT always right! Hah!
Besides burgers on sourdough with real cheddar, they've got the usually burger-shop fare of other fried things and sandwiches.
The kicker: there's an open-air bar out back with seating on the pier... great views of the East Bay and the Bay Bridge. Makes for a great day on a sunny weekend with folks, and a game on. And did I mention $1 PBRs? I'm so there!
I feel tricked by Anthony Bourdain. He made it so sound absolutely irresistible on TV so I actually made a trip out there. Aside from the spectacular view, I don't see what the big deal is about the food. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate simple burgers. I even appreciate grease-laden, unhealthy burgers as long as the flavor is there. But unfortunately, this was lacking much.
I got a Cheeseburger and Chili Cheese Fries. The cheeseburger was very sloppy. One bite would have a huge chunk of onion and another bite would have nothing. It's just all over the place and the bread is too thick. They use a sourdough roll instead and I appreciate the creativity but the patty gets lost. It's also not flavored well so I used a lot of ketchup and Tapatio.
The chili cheese fries came out while we were still paying. I believe they use American cheese slices but the chili wasn't hot enough to melt it completely which was a bummer. The chili itself was also a bit bland. The two biggest things this place has got going for it are the local feel and the location.
When I got home, I had to practically run to the bathroom.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THE BIGGEST PLUS EVER -- FREE PARKING FOR CUSTOMERS!!!
Friday had fish chips as the special. The batter was crispy delicious but the fries were not crispy at all. Soggy oil spill comes to mind
$1.75 PBRs all day, everyday. Need I say more?
A very nice place to grab a beer after work on a nice warm, summer day. The food is meh. Just greasy bar food. We had the fried fish and burgers. The fried fish was not bad, though not great either. Tasted as if it were fried twice - so it was very crispy.
The fries were simply fries - not as good as McD and got limp very quickly.
The ketchup is a bit watery - don't know why?
The burgers were very ordinary - the buns were not special - a bit dry. The onions on the burger were cut a bit big and so they were a bit sharp. The patties are really quite thin/small, so it's hard to taste the meat within the bun. My kids remarked that "the burgers are good, but not as good as McDonald's." Can't believe I spent $3.45 for it. Tasted like a $0.99 burger. My review, definitely not as good as "In-n-Out" but the views are spectacular.
Also parking is plentiful and convenient - unusual in SF.
I never went to Red's because of Bourdain.
I used to go to Red's because it's the cheapest place for breakfast at 5:30 in the morning.
Breakfast specialty was short stack of pancakes in collision mat style.
Never tried the hamburger. From what others say about it, just as well.
As I left Red's one morning two dudes got out of a taxi; one of them had a Rollei on a strap around his neck. He clicked it once and went inside.
Next time I went back to Red's, they had a supply of grey sweatshirts with a b/w picture of me in front of the restaurant and the Bay Bridge arching over.
Of course I wore my beard, trenchcoat and wide brimmed hat -- very film noir.
But the price of the sweatshirt was out of my reach.
So, how about a free breakfast? No.
Well, then how about an extra collision mat on the house? No.
I have not been back to Red's.
This place is a total dive, but in a good way. The values are incredible here. My egg salad sandwich was ok, but not one of the better ones I've had. What really makes this place is the atmosphere...being able to look out unto the bay is an experience one does not easily forget, especially on a sunny day. One warning, though: do not feed the seagulls. If you do, hordes of them will flock around, waiting in hungry anticipation of their next bite.
On a gorgeous day, this place couldn't be better for cheap beer, and a fantastic view! Not many places you can enjoy a beverage or two on the water without having to drop a lot of cash. Don't expect a fancy menu or bar, but when it comes to basics, this place is perfect!
Anthony Bourdain, you either have a good friend who owns this place, you were blacked out when you picked it, or you are losing your touch/retirement is calling. We headed here after seeing Red's on No Reservations SF, and I left completely disappointed.
Their burgers make McDonalds look like Taylor's in the Ferry Building. I didn't want to finish the burger for fear of getting sick. I tried the onion rings, and I have had better ones bought from the frozen section at Luckys Supermarket. The fries were the one saving grace, and they were average at best.
I will say that Red's Java House has a charming, run-down shack atmosphere that made me really want to like this place. The outdoor patio was also a big plus, BUT the food was too shitty for me to ever enter its shack doors again.
Sorry Red.
Dropped by again on Friday to grab a quick bite before heading to the east bay. Had the double cheeseburger and once again, not the best burger, but very satisfying and under $5 before tax.
The fact that Anthony Bourdain came by here on his last visit prompted me to do a quick write up… Read more »
I can't believe all the "yuppie" reviews here dissing on this place like they are reviewing the latest Pat Kuleto restaurant! Maybe you shouldn't follow Bourdain everywhere, he's known for simple greasy spoon spots as much as he goes to high end places. So don't get mad being a follower and go back to Momo's.
This is a great place for a cheap beer ($3) before, during or after a game. Or for any other day of the week to people watch, have a chat with a stranger and hang out for a bit. It's a local hangout. Judge the food for what it is, it's greasy spoon, nothing to write home about (exept when you have a solid hangover, this is recipe for success, Bourdain knows that too). Please people, review with common sense and keep the places you visit in perspective!
I do not know why I chose to wait so long to finish this update. Especially seeing so many new people comment after they saw Anthony Bourdain visit the city! I am in no way trying to be a glory hound but I feel that it was time for me to finish my unwritten reviews. Located near AT&T park and off the beautiful coast this is easily considered a small hole int he wall gem in San Francisco. It has been here what seems like forever and the thing to get here is their breakfast or burgers. I tend to go for the burgers because in all reality there is no way I can wake up in time early in the morning and high tail it there from where I am living now. There is simple indoor and outdoor seating which gives the place a good vibe and you see people from all aspects of life coming here. From different generations to different ethnicities people really do enjoy the food here.
Now with that said why have I chosen the what seems to be high in grease burgers you may ask? Well that's actually quite simple. The burgers here are amazing! Even though it is a bit of a commute I wouldn't hesitate to come here for lunch one day as I enjoy a reasonably priced burger. Goes to show you that even with all these people proclaiming that they have the cities best burgers either by ads or online websites that the best places don't need any advertisements. They let their food and customers do the talking for them. In this case they are right. Everything for under 10 bucks is a steal in my opinion. If you ever find yourself around the area for whatever reason, then this is the place to go check out. Order the double burger. You will not regret it.
"Eek, Methinks not" is right!!!
After seeing this place featured on Bourdain, I, like many others i'm sure, decided to check it out. Let's just say i hope to puke up that "meal" i just ate, because it was crap!
One of the most mediocre cheeseburgers i've had, and by far the worst onion rings in the cosmos. Seriously, the cosmos...
The view was great, i cant wait for Red's to be torn to the ground so something worthy can open up in this spot.
Puke time...
"hama ya! singa wada song now!"
-Bruce Springsteen
Didn't quite live up to the hype. The burger was a bit of "breadwich" (see Togo's commercials). Even though I like sourdough, the meat/bread ratio was off and even my overly generous addition of ketchup for "lubrication" did not aid the dry taste very much.
Cool atmosphere with the simple menu and the deck out back though. Feels nice and old and has character. Maybe next time I'll ask for 4 patties in the burger or something. Breakfast is probably worth a try as well.
I had some time to kill today, and this place looked just right: local, eclectic, and (most importantly to my rumbling stomach) fast.
I ordered up the fish and chips and a coke, and was pleased to see that the fish were real big chunks of fried and battered goodness on a decent sized bed of fries.
Hot, a little greasy, a bit chewy, and a tad salty. Perfection, and accompanied by the raucous and persistent music of several nappy pigeons, a scrubby seagull or three, and a teensy little brown bird who actually flew up onto my table, begging for food as I sat out back, enjoying the view of the bay.
This place is my new greasy guilty pleasure.
Great location. Cool historic SF photos on the walls, Willie Mays. Had the double cheese burger combo. It was just ok. It was more like 2 Mcdonald's patties and one little slice of unmelted cheese between a whole loaf of sourdough bread. Still planning on trying the breakfast.
Cheeseburger is ok (too much mustard for my liking), chilli is bleh but onion rings are FAB (prob bc they are more fried batter than onion - but hey, I'm not complaining). Also FAB - $1.75 PBRs everyday.
All you need for a perfect Sunday: some sun (although it's a little rare in SF), a couple PBRs and onion rings. Not quit sure what Bourdain was talking about re: the burger....
After finishing up a massage at Suchada's across the street (thanks to a gift certificate from our sweet roomie Kia!), the sunshine and the cresting waves of Bay water beckoned us to the outdoor patio of Red's Java House. We both were in the mood for fish and chips, but the menu also had tons of burger options. The fish seemed fresh, the beer-batter was fried to perfection, and the view was unbeatable. It's a perfect spot to enjoy a meal on a sunny SF day...
good beers on tap too
There is nothing like consistancy in a simple burger,and we mean SIMPLE! not to mention sharing. I was taught to share and I do..........with Jonathon Seagull
LOL!! LOVE RED's ! This is where my Dad proposed to my Mom !
Ugghhh....In 1961
I can't keep track of the number of times I've passed Red's Java House on the way to a Giants game or on my way to piers 30-32 for an event (KFOG Kaboom) and never gave it a second look or have gone in.
It wasn't until watching Anthony Bourdain on his SF trip stop here for a burger and a beer that I decided that I needed to check this place out next time I'm in the area and looking for a bite to eat.
Me and four of my friends decided to stop here for a bite before the SF Giants vs Rockies game so we didn't have to pay for the pricey food and drink inside the stadium.
After reading the numerous poor reviews on their burger, and the positive reviews from those who had Red's fish and chips, I then decided to play it safe and go for the fish and chips ($8.50) and a bottle of Anchor Steam (about $5)
We grabbed a table outside with the seagulls and enjoyed the view of the bay and the parking lot next to us.Three of us had the fish and chips and the other two the burgers. Those who had the burgers weren't that impressed..."how was the burger?" "Meh, I've had better" "It's ok"
The fish and chips were alright, I've had better, but it was nothing to complain about. The plastic forks they give you are practically useless on the fried batter on the fish and only good once you crack open the fish with your hands. They give you a couple decent sized pieces of fish on a bed of french fries and with a side of tarter sauce and malt vinegar on the side.
After finishing our fish and chips and burgers, we decided to get one more beer before heading into the game and we got a pitcher of Anchor Steam ($16), ($14 during happy hour - wish I could tell you when that was)
They were cleaning up getting ready to close when we headed out (around 7:20pm) so it's not a late night place, but an ok place to go if you need a quick bite before the game and don't have the time for a sit down full service restaurant.
I feel sooo bad giving Red's 2 stars because it's the kind of place you really want to like. Small and unpretentious, been around forever...you get the idea. And some friends from the office enjoyed what all agreed was a yummy breakfast one morning - so how could lunch not be good?
I'm not at all up on the whole Bourdain/No Reservations thing, so I wouldn't have known he praised it so heavily were it not for info from one of the said work friends. We decided to check Red's out for lunch on a beautiful, warm SF day - just the kind of day Red's orders up.
Apparently, Bourdain lauded the chili cheese fries - so I ordered those to split. They're pretty good, but don't come close to Taylor's down the street, which feature higher quality chili and cheese (for, yes, a higher price). On chili cheese fries alone, I'd have given Red's 3 stars.
However, the burger is LAME. There's nothing I can say no one else has. Small, flat patty, way too much mustard drowning out any other flavor, and overly large, chewy sourdough bread hiding the few "extras" on the burger - onions and pickles, maybe? I find this odd, since I specifically ordered my burger with "everything." Apparently, lettuce and tomato are not in Red's wheelhouse.
So...I don't know. I trust my friends' breakfast review, and might try that. But for a burger and fries on the Embarcadero with outdoor seating...hello, Taylor's...you always have been, and always will be, the one for me.
I'm not sure why Bourdain was so enamored with the burger. It's basically thin costco style patties, a slice of cheese, tons of mustard combined with onions and pickles surrounded by a loaf of bread. I give this place 4 starsbecause of the atmosphere which is great. The ceiling in this place has a large tumor and looks to be close to collapsing. The outdoor seating offers fantastic views of the bay.
Price is "cheap" but you get what you pay for. If i go back there I'll definitely be getting the fish and chips and ignoring the burger. C'mon Bourdain, I was really hoping you'd find some secrets in SF but that episode was pretty weak.
Anthony Bourdain Lied. These burgers tasted like something you'd heat up in a microwave. I suppose at least the price wasn't too intense.
Skip it and go to Holy Grill or something. (or Java House down the street.)
The Bay, Burgers, Beer - can't go wrong with that combo!
If it's good enough for Anthony Bourdain.......
Great space out back to just chill and even have a drink if that tickles your fancy.
A few friends were hosting a fund raiser for the Susan G. Komen and as a good friend I wanted to help their cause. Now this place will be a stop on a sunny day where I have nothing to do.
I wasn't impressed with the food...
I was impressed with the view...
There is no better place before a game. Momo's? No thank you. Red's? Hell yeah!
Pitchers of beer, sitting outside, looking at all the other fans... it's perfect. The food is very cheap as well.
I advise that you stand to the right side of the outside bar... I am always overlooked when I stand on the left hand side... so I don't do that anymore.
I wish I could have given this a higher rating.
All of the elements were there.
Divey appearance? Check... Patio overlooking the water? Check... Free parking? Check... Bustling locals with smiles plastered on their faces? Not so much. The place was empty save for two moms and their baby strollers.
I went there a little early, about 11:15 so I thought I would be getting a made to order burger. I was just a little off...
Ordered the double cheeseburger and watched with horror as the grill master tossed some precooked patties on the grill and lazily slapped on some cheese.
After it was warmed up a little they put it on a delicious piece of french bread. But what good is a nice and soft crusty piece of french bread when the fillings are premade crap?
I regret not demanding a freshly made burger but hey, if that's how they do it I suppose it's good I found out early on. Will not go here again. The fries were nice and fresh seem to be on par with In n Out fries if you like that style.
I give this place 2.25 and that's after adding half a point for location on the water and in close proximity to the stadium.
This place is great. How can you go wrong with a gorgeous bay view, nearby parking, and beer on a sunny afternoon?
The burgers aren't the best, but they're cheap and so is the beer.
Let me relate a hypothetical situation:
There are those days when you show up to work, and perhaps you had a little too much to drink the night before. You get by until noon with some cereal you had in the morning, but by the time lunch rolls around, you realize you need some greasy goodness to satisfy your body's nutritious needs. Seeing as how you work a block away from Red's, the decision is clear.
Yes, it's fried. Yes, it's greasy. Yes, it's tasty. Fish and chips are a staple here, and it's a GREAT place to go on a nice day. Even if you have to walk more than a block to get here, you'll leave full and wanting a nap. What better way to spend a Friday afternoon at the office?
Such a great place for breakfast and lunch!!!
I pass this place all the time and never gave it a second thought. But my husband wanted to try it while on one of our bike rides and I am so glad he did! I had the breakfast and it was just everything you would ever want from a breakfast, the bacon was hot and juicy, the pancakes were hot and cakey and the eggs were cooked to perfection.
And then the view is just beautiful! On a warm day, sitting outside would be ideal, but the warm atmosphere inside is great too...so cozy.
I loved this place, and have been wanting to go back ever since. YUM YUM Red's!
Burgers. Quintessential San Francisco views. More burgers. Very reasonable prices. Did I mention burgers on a toasted bun, including a veggie option? If not, I should. Burgers.
On a sunny day with the Bay Bridge in view, you almost can't do better.
If you don't like pigeons do not come here. They allow pigeons to walk into the dining area inside! I don't think that's really sanitary or clean. Scare the pigeons and they start flapping and flying all over the place. Can you say gross while you're trying to eat? The food is alright. It's hit or miss. Sometimes the fries are really good. Lately not so much.
If there's anything I like more than a $2 beer while sitting on a sunny bay-side patio its eating a $2 hamburger while sitting on a sunny bay-side patio.
Note to yelpers, this place is about as dive as it comes, and you have to be prepared to dodge pigeon intruders.
Someone told me once that you could see this place in the background in one of the Dirty Harry movies, but I have seen these movies a couple of times each, and have yet to see this place, but if you have, please do tell.
Sidenote, I heard that as of a year or two ago, the city of San Francisco was going to triple their rent cost, so this place may not be around for that much longer.
Hopefully it will.
Discount
Neighborhood: SOMA
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Neighborhood: SOMA
San Francisco, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
San Francisco, CA
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
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